Hoosiers finally hit gridiron with full roster of scholarships

Ten years ago.\nThe Hoosiers had their last winning season 10 years ago at 6-5, but that is only the beginning. They attended their last bowl game 11 years ago, losing to Virginia Tech 45-20.\nIU has not won a bowl game since 1991, when they shutout Baylor 24-0. \nThe Hoosiers have not won a Big Ten Championship since the Rose Bowl campaign of 1967.\nThese numbers seem daunting, but there are others that seem more uplifting. Such as 18 -- the number of returning starters from 2003, 14 of which are seniors.\nFor the first time under coach Gerry DiNardo, the Hoosiers will have the maximum 85 players on scholarship. \nThen there is seven -- the number of bowl games with which the Big Ten has agreements. If a Big Ten team reaches the Bowl Championship Series national championship game, it would most likely open up an eighth opportunity for the Hoosiers to have a postseason. \nNo matter what numbers are thrown out or how dismal the team history, the Hoosiers enter the season with a core group of players ready to break any and all stereotypes.\nBut DiNardo said the Hoosiers' early games will be a deciding factor in the course of the entire season.\n"With those first opponents, we need to gain some momentum," DiNardo said. "I believe an important part of us is momentum early -- making something happen early -- because teams like ours need to be reinforced in a positive way early. That's why our non-conference schedule is so important."\nPerennial favorites Michigan and Ohio State make for a tough early conference schedule, but senior wide receiver Travis Haney said the Hoosiers do not think of those games as automatic losses.\n"I believe some people are in for a shock," Haney said. "I get the sense that everyone in overlooking us. They may come into the game expecting a victory and be laid back. When they do that, we're going to take advantage."\nThe best opportunity for an advantage may be to open up a struggling passing game. There were zero 300-yard passing or 100-yard receiving performances turned in by a player all year. \nSenior Courtney Roby led the team in yards and receptions in each of the last two years and is only 40 catches away from breaking the school record. Haney is listed as 6-foot-5, which makes him taller than every defensive back in the conference. Both are ample targets for senior quarterback Matt LoVecchio, who was placed on the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award this summer. The award is given away annually to the nation's top quarterback.\nThe Hoosiers will also look to sophomore running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis to continue the success he had last season. Green-Ellis led the team with 938 yards on the ground while only starting in three games. He will have strong competition from junior running backs Yamar Washington and Chris Taylor, who also started three games last year. \nIf the offense is going to put up better numbers this season, they must rely just as heavily on the defense to shut down its opponent, something that did not happen often in 2003.\nThe Hoosiers gave up 30 points in nine games last year while scoring that many only twice. For the season, IU gave up nearly 18 more points than it scored each game.\nDefensive line coach Joe Cullen was promoted to defensive coordinator after last season, and he is taking a different approach to the plan-of-attack. \n"We're going to be more aggressive this year," said senior defensive lineman Martin Lapostolle. "We're concentrating on making the big plays. I'm sure the offense is going to be good, but you're going to see some crazy stuff from the defense." \nThe Hoosiers open the 2004 season against Central Michigan at 6 p.m., Sept. 4 at Memorial Stadium. They will then head to Oregon Sept. 11, and Kentucky Sept. 18. Big Ten play begins Sept. 25 at home against Michigan State. \n-- Contact staff writer David Paulen at dpaulen@indiana.edu.